Improvement in washing-machines



C. A. DODGE. Washing-Machine.

Nor 2H;=1 382.-- I Patented Jan, I4, 1879;

, ,1 INVENTOR ATTORN EY WTNES'SES k G M Lie ovnus A. DODGE, or MIDDLEBU'RY, vnRMoNr.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,382, dated January 14, 1879; application filed May 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, QYRUs A. DODGE, of Middlebury, in the county of Addison and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pounder VVashing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form part of this specification.

, My invention relates to an improvement in pounder washing-machines, the object being to provide a clamping device for supporting one end of the actuating-lever of the machine, said clamping device being of such construction that it may be removably secured to the upper and lower edges of the tub; and to that end my invention consists in the combination, with the actuating-lever of a pounder washing-machine, of a clamping device consisting, essentially, of a rod provided with a hook at one end, which fits over one edge of a washtub, the opposite end of the rod being screwthreaded, and a clamp provided with a hook which fits over the opposite edge of the tub, said clamp being perforated for the reception of the screw-threaded end of the rod, and means for securing the rod and clamp together in an adjustablemanner.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a washing-machine embodying my improvement; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

. A represents an ordinary tub. B is a guide bar or rod-extending outward from the tub, and secured thereto as follows: 0 is a fastenin g-bar, provided with an upper hooked end, a, which fits over the edge of the tub, and to this bar is rigidly secured one end' of the guidebar B. The bar 0 is of less width than the guide-bar, in order that the slide, hereinafter described, may be moved the entire length of the guide-bar. Thelower end of fastening-bar O is provided with a clip or saddle-plate, b, the central portion of which is attached to bar 0, while its ends rest against the tub.

D is a brace, attached at its upper end to the outer end of the guide bar or rod, while its lower end is secured to or merges into the lower end of the bar O,which is outwardly bent and perforated to receive the screw-theaded end of the tightening-rod E, the latter being held in place and adjusted by means of a thumb-nut, c. The lower end of rod E is bent into hook form, and engages with the lower edge of the tub.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the guide-bar is most firmly braced throughout its length, and is adapted to be removably secured to any size of tub.

F represents a slide, the lower ends of which extend beneath the guide bar or red. Slide F fits the guide bar or rod, so that it may be freely moved to and fro on the same.

To the upper face of the slide is attached a stud or pin, (1, upon which is placed a sleeve, G, which is adapted to be freely rotated on said pin or stud.

Sleeve G is provided at its upper and lower ends with cars 0, between which are pivoted the ends of the actuating-lever H and equalizin g-bar I. The opposite end of the equalizingbar is pivoted to a holder, J, the upper end of which is provided with jaws f or a ring, which embraces the pounder-shaft K.

A bar or plate, L, depends from the jaws or ring f. A keeper, M, is attached to the actuatin g-lever H.

The pounder-shaftis provided with anynuinber of holes, 9, whereby it may be secured to the actuating-lever in a vertically-adjustable manner by means of the pin N, which latter passes through the keeper M, pounder-shaft K, bar or plate L, and actuating-lever H.

It will thus be observed that the position of the equalizing-bar and aetuatinglever relative to the pounder-shaft may be readily varied as desired by simply ehangin g the position of the single bearing-piece N.

The equalizing-bar I is arranged parallel with the actuating-lever H, and, as the swiveled sleeve to which the outer ends of said equalizing-bar and actuating-lever are pivoted always maintains a fixed vertical position, it follows that the pounder-shaft holder J will always be maintained in a vertical position, as it is pivoted to both the equalizingbar and actuating-lever.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the actuating-lever may be freely moved eitherin a longitudinal, lateral, or vertical direction,

and thus carry the pounder O to any part of the tub.

I-make no claim in this application to any portion of the washing-machine herein shown and described except the clamping device, as the other improvements form the subject-matter of a subsequent application for a patent thereon.

Having fully described my improvement, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the operating-lever of a pounder washing-machine, a clamping device consisting ofavertical rod, screw-threaded at one end, and provided with a hook to fit over one edge of a wash-tub, and a hooked clamp to fit over the opposite edge of the tub, the said clamp being perforated to slide on the vertical rod, and. adjustably secured thereto by a nut, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a pounder washing-machine, the combination, with a guide bar or rod, a fasteningbar hooked over the upper edge of the tub, and a clip or saddle attached to its lower end, of a brace attached to the fastening-bar and guide rod or bar, and a tightening-rod, the lower end of which engages with the lower edge of the tub, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of May, 1878.

CYRUS A. DODGE.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. SEYMOUR, FRANK 0. MCCLEARY. 

